Adjustable electric magnetic vibrator



Oct. 3, 1967 J. H. M BLANE ADJUSTABLE ELECTRIC MAGNETIC VIBRATOR FiledApril 5, 1965 Ft .&

INVENTOR hives/z 1700310112 United States Patent Otlice 3,345,525-Patented Oct. 3, 1967 3,345,525 ADJUSTABLE ELECTRIC MAGNETIC VIBRATORJames H. MacBlane, Indiana, Pa. (Rte. 5, Carrollton, Ohio 44615) FiledApr. 5, 1965, Ser. No. 445,649 6 Claims. (Cl. 31017) ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE For inducing vibrations in a feed hopper, an electromagneticvibrator including a housing securable to the hopper and having aperipheral sidewall with a radial flange at its outer extent; an ironcore securely mounted in the housing and having a coil wound thereon; anarmature secured to a laterally larger metal plate and the plateresiliently mounted on the flange with the armature adjacent the coil, acover enclosing the outer end of the housing; and an adjustment elementprotruding through the flange into contact with the plate peripherallyof the armature for adjustably resiliently biasing the armature awayfrom the coil.

The foregoing abstract should not be used to interpret the scope orprinciples of the invention disclosed in this document.

This invention relates to material handling, and more particularly. to adevice that will activate granular material which is in any hopper,chute, or similar container, so that the material may be moved from thesame when it is opened at the bottom.

One of the most troublesome problems of men engaged in the handling ofgranular material, which may be sand or any substance so closely packedas to resemble a solid or the like, is that of getting the material tomove once it has stuck to the sides of the hopper or chute in which itis placed. Generally, the material can only be moved by beating thesides of the container in which it is stuck or else, if the container ishigh enough, by reaching down from the top and prying the material fromthe sides with a shovel or the like.

It is, therefore, the principal object of this invention to provide amechanism that will move, and keep moving, material in any form ofcontainer having this invention of an electric magnetic vibrator mountedon the outside thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide an electric magneticvibrator that contains a minimum number of parts that cannot get out oforder, and is. therefore, a device of the character herein describedthat will move and keep moving the material within the container on theoutside of which this invention is mounted merely by the throwing of anelectric switch or the pressing of the switch button.

Another object of this invention is to provide an electric magneticvibrator that is totally enclosed within a dust proof case.

Another object of this invention is to provide an electric magneticvibrator that embodies but six parts which are major, namely, a housing,laminated core, coil, flexible hinge, power transmission blocks, andtuning screws.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an electricmagnetic vibrator that can be manufactured in any desired size, and ofany desired strength; to move, and keep moving, any kind of granular orsimilar material that is placed in any container having this inventionsecured to its outside.

With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, theinvention consists in certain combinations and constructions which willbe hereinafter fully described,

and then specifically set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification,and in which like characters of reference indicate the same or likeparts:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional view of this invention, taken substantiallyalong line 1-1 of FIGURE 3, and viewed in the direction indicated by thearrows.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of this invention with its cover brokenopen in order to show its internal construction.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of this invention, taken substantiallyalong line 33 of FIGURE 1, and viewed in the direction indicated by thearrows.

FIGURE 4 is a side view of this invention secured in place to theoutside wall of a typical hopper, which is shown in phantom lines.

Referring to the drawing, it will be observed that FIG- URE 1 clearlyillustrates the inside of this invention 10, which embodies a hollowcircular housing 11 having a flanged bottom 12 that is bolted onto theoutside of whatever container one desires to be vibrated in order toloosen the material that is located therein. An iron core 13 has arecess 14 therein, in which is located the coil of electric wire 15through the center of which upwardly projects the center member 16 ofthe aforesaid iron core 13. A laminated metal armature 17, that is ofthe same length as that of the diameter of the aforesaid iron core 13,is located directly above the top of the iron core and the aforesaidcoil of electric wire 15. The armature 17 is secured to the underside ofthe metal plate 18, that has the underside of one end provided with apair of spaced recesses in which rests the top of the coil springs 19which in turn rests upon the upper end of the tuning screws 29, that arelocated in the upper flange 21 of the aforesaid circular housing 11 ofthis invention.

A U-shaped power block 22 is secured to the upper surface of theaforesaid upper flange 21, while an alike block 23 rests on top of theaforesaid metal plate 18 in a manner that will permit its ends to bebolted to the U-shaped block 22 and to the often mentioned upper flange21 by means of the two end screws 24.

A part of this invention. which I personally call a flexible hinge 25,is almost identical in appearance with the two aforesaid U-shaped blocks22 and 23. The hinge 25 is located at the opposite end of the aforesaidmetal plate 18, which is supported by the rounded portions 25 of thishinge, as is clearly shown in FIGURE 1 of the drawing. A dust cap 27,having a downwardly turned peripheral side 28, the edge 29 of which isnormally held just above the upper surface of the aforesaid upper flange21 by the spaced screws 30 that secure the cap to the upper flange 21 ofthis invention.

It will be understood by anyone experienced in the electrical arts thatwhen the coil 15 of this invention is connected to a split waverectifier by means of a switch and a rheostat, the latter controls thevoltage, and the rectifier cuts off half of the wave length, therebyreducing the frequency from 7200 impulses per second to 3600 impulsesper second. Neither the switch, the rheostat, nor the rectifier areshown in any of the views of the drawing since they do not form anactual part of this invention.

It is now clear to anyone experienced in either the materials handlingart or the electrical arts, that when this invention of an electricmagnetic vibrator is secured by bolts to the outside of any hopper orthe like, as is shown in FIGURE 4 of the drawing, and the device isactivated by the turning on of the electric switch after the unit hasbeen connected to a source of electricity, the vibrations transmitted tothe inside of the hopper or the like will naturally loosen any materialthat will be in the aforesaid hopper.

3 Although it has not been previously mentioned in this specification,the aforesaid U-shaped block 22 and the hinge 25 are made of resilientmaterial, as one can see by looking at FIGURE 1 of the drawing. The useof resilient material for these two parts of this invention permits themovement of the ends of the aforesaid metal plate 18 to be transmittedto the stationary structure of the invention, as will be understood byanyone versed in that portion of the mechanical arts that deals withboth vibrations and materials.

The invention above described may be varied in construction within thescope of the claims; for the particular device; selected to illustratethe invention, is but one of many possible concrete embodiments of thesame. It is not, therefore, to be restricted to the precise details ofthe structure shown and described.

What is claimed is: 1. An electromagnetic vibrator comprising: a housingincluding a base, a peripheral sidewall projecting axially from saidbase and a radially outwardly extending flange on said sidewall near theend thereof opposite the base, said housing being constructed andarranged for securement to a hopper or the like for inducement ofvibrations therein; a ferromagnetic core secured in said housing; 1

armature toward and away from the coil and core; said resilient meanincluding at least one body of resilient material received between saidmetal plate and said flange;

means defining an opening axially through said flange; a longitudinallyadvanceable-retractable element received through said opening andengaging the body of resilient material between the flange and metalplate in a sense to force the body of resilient material against theplate; adjustment means for advancing and retracting said adjustmentelement from exteriorly of the housing for varying the resilient forcewith which the body of resilient material engages the plate, therebyproviding tuning means for the vibrator easily operable exteriorly ofthe housing thereof.

2. The electromagnetic vibrator of claim 1 wherein the housing furthercomprises a dust cover removably secured to the remainder of the housingand extending from the outer periphery of said flange, over the plateand armature, thereby closing the opposite end of the housing from saidbase.

3. The electromagnetic vibrator of claim 1 wherein the resilient meansincludes at least one second body of resilient material received betweenthe plate and flange at points on the plate and housing generallydiametrically opposite the first-mentioned, tuning means providing, bodyof resilient material; and fastening means secured to said flange,clamping the metal plate against the second body of resilient materialto provide 'a resilient hinge about which said plate and armature rotateduring tuning.

4. The electromagnetic vibrator of claim 1 further including a body ofresilient material mounted on the housing above the plate andconstructed and arranged for abutment with the opposite side of theplate from the armature to limit excursion of the plate from the coil.

5. The electromagnetic vibrator of claim 1 wherein the body of resilientmaterial comprises a coil spring in compression.

6. The electromagnetic vibrator of claim 5 further including meansdefining a socket in the underside of said metal plate, opening towardsaid flange, one end of said spring being received in said socket andabutting the metal plate therein.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,439,219 4/1948 OConnor 310292,458,313 1/1949 Stevens 310- X 2,472,637 6/ 1949 Weyandt 310-292,539,391 1/1951 Alvord 310--29 3,155,853 11/1964 Spurlin et al. 310-293,167,670 1/1965 Spurlin 310-29 MILTON O. HIRSHFIELD, Primary Examiner.

D. F. DUGGAN, Alrsistant Examiner.

1. AN ELECTROMAGNETIC VIBRATOR COMPRISING: A HOUSING INCLUDING A BASE, APERIPHERAL SIDEWALL PROJECTING AXIALLY FROM SAID BASE AND A RASIALLYOUTWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGE ON SAID SIDEWALL NEAR THE END THEREOFOPPOSITE THE BASE, SAID HOUSING BEING CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED FORSECUREMENT TO A HOPPER OR THE LIKE FOR INDUCEMENT OF VIBRATIONS THEREIN;A FERROMAGNETIC CORE SECURED IN SAID HOUSING; A WIRE COIL RECEIVED ONSAID CORE FACING OUTWARDLY OF SAID HOUSING BASE AND CONSTRUCTED ANDARRANGED FOR CONNECTION TO A SUPPLY OF PULSATING ELECTRIC CURRENT; AMETAL PLATE; AN ARMATURE SECURED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID METAL PLATE INTHE CENTRAL REGION THEREOF, SAID METAL PLATE EXTENDING LATERALLY BEYONDSAID ARMATURE AT LEAST THROUGHOUT A PORTION OF THE PERIMETER THEREOF;RESILIENT MEANS SECURING SAID METAL PLATE, PERIPHERALLY OF SAIDARMATURE, TO SAID HOUSING FLANGE FOR LIMITED OSCILLATION OF THE PLATEAND ARMATURE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE COIL AND CORE; SAID RESILIENTMEANS INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE BODY OF RESILIENT MATERIAL RECEIVED BETWEENSAID METAL PLATE AND SAID FLANGE; MEANS DEFINING AN OPENING AXIALLYTHROUGH SAID FLANGE; A LONGITUDINALLY ADVANCEABLE-RETRACTABLE ELEMENTRECEIED THROUGH SAID OPENING AND ENGAGING THE BODY OF RESILIENT MATERIALBETWEEN THE FLANGE AND METAL PLATE IN A SENSE TO FORCE THE BODY OFRESILIENT MATERIAL AGAINST THE PLATE; ADJUSTMENT MEANS FOR ADVANCING ANDRETRACTING SAID ADJUSTMENT ELEMENT FROM EXTEIORLY OF THE HOUSING FORVARYING THE RESILIENT FORCE WITH WHICH THE BODY OF RESILIENT MATERIALENGAGES THE PLATE THEREBY PROVIDING TUNING MEANS FOR THE VIBRATOR EASILYOPERABLE EXTERIORLY OF THE HOUSING THEREOF.